The 21 best cheap eats in Brisbane

This South Brisbane institution is known for its cult-favourite falafel wrap, but if you’re feeling hungry-hungry, go for the lamb souvlaki or a vegan-friendly wrap stacked with crunchy veg and zippy sauces. Everything is fresh, made to order and comes in portions that make meal prepping feel pointless. Expect warm pita wraps of every persuasion – from free-range bacon with banana or fig jam for breakfast, to gado gado salad or lamb kofta with tabbouleh. Wraps hover around $16, bowls around $18. Informal, fast, healthy and guaranteed to hit the spot. Cha-ching. 

Order the: The Olympus wrap with lemon chicken, Spanish onion, tomato, lettuce and yoghurt sauce.

Price: Bowls from $18, wraps from $15.50

A Brisbane institution, a carb lover’s paradise, a place of worship (literally – it's in a converted church). Pancake Manor is open 24/7 for all your syrup-drenched emergencies. The menu covers all the bases, from the strawberry patch – two buttermilk pancakes with fresh strawberries, coulis, cream and vanilla ice cream – to blueberry heaven, which swaps in blueberries and sauce. Divine intervention, indeed. 

Order the: Single buttermilk pancake with fluffed butter and maple syrup.

Price: One pancake for $7.50, burgers for $24.50.

If the sound of a loaded and fluffy-soft deli sandwich gets you going, you're going to want to pop Joe's on your list. Inspired by Italian-American street food, this Brisbane CBD deli is all about huge portions, sprawling flavours and affordable prices for what you get. With an 80's NYC-inspired diner fitout and a wide range of epic sandwich combos, Joe's takes the humble deli sandwich up several levels. Hot dogs, sangas (hot and cold) and a range of cheap sides are all on the menu. 

Order the: The lobster roll, if you're feeling fancy. 

Price: Hot rolls from $14.90, deli sangas from $16.40

For the indecisive, Evra Market's pay-by-weight system is the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure. Their ever-changing selection of hot and cold bar options covers all the cravings – from pesto pasta to marinara meatballs to their signature rotisserie chicken. For balance (or at least the illusion of it), there’s a rainbow of fresh salads loaded with grains, greens and market-fresh toppings. But, the best part? The sticker shock – except the good kind. You’ll be stunned by how much you can pile on your plate for under $20. Feels like a loophole, tastes like a win.

Order the: The chicken combo plate, featuring slow-cooked rotisserie chicken with two seasonal sides.

Price: $16 sandwiches, $16-$18 for a combo meal. Pay by weight otherwise.

As straightforward as its name suggests, Banhmi 7 Days delivers fresh, flavoursome Vietnamese sandwiches daily. The formula? Crispy baguettes, savoury fillings and fresh herbs that make every bite sing. Whether you go for the classic pork roll, the lemongrass chicken or the tofu banh mi, you’re guaranteed maximum flavour for minimal spend. The rest of the menu also delivers with vermicelli salads and traditional beef pho – both at prices that feel like a glitch in the matrix.

Order the: Crispy roast pork banh mi.

Price: Banh mi $12, bowls $15

The appeal of Taro’s is simple. It’s $21.45 for any variety of really, really good ramen. The tonkotsu ramen has a rich, silky texture and a free-range egg atop. (Taro’s takes its eggs seriously, and it only buys from certified organic suppliers). For those of you who like your ramen a little lighter, try the shio ramen, which is made with a salt-flavoured umami base prepared in a pressure cooker for maximum flavour. The ambience at Taro’s is equally tasty, staffed with friendly, smiling staff who are happy to help guide you through your choices. In our humble opinion, nothing quite washes a ramen down like an ice-cold frothy, and at Taro's, you'll find Suntory Premium Malts and Orion on tap, served in chilled pint glasses with a handle.

Order the: Tonkotsu ramen

Price: Ramen from $20, rice dishes from $18.50

Loving Hut is an international vegan fast food franchise and your one-stop shop for a quality feed made with good intentions. Above a freezer filled with various take-home vegan produce sits a busy takeaway-style menu. From noodles and curries to nuggets and pastries, the cuisine offered is both eclectic and exciting. At first, you’re not sure what to expect; there’s no specific vibe to the place, and the dishes share no theme other than being vegan. But it’s love at first sight when your meal arrives – we had the Singapore Noodles ($18.80), the Loving Hut Laksa ($18.80) and shared the Heavenly Salad ($14.50).  Snacks start at $7.20 for the steamed barbecue buns.

Order the: The signature laksa. 

Price: Snacks from $7.20, mains from $18.80

Located in the old Palmdale shopping centre, opposite Garden City, Watany is a morning walk through Beirut with its fresh bread, classic olive oil, sumac and za’atar trio, and rare Arabic produce. The underwhelming view of the car park completely contrasts with what you're getting here: a wholesome Lebanese breakfast representing various regions in Lebanon and the Middle East, served with tea and stories. The falafel plate features five fresh falafel balls served with salad, pickles and tahini sauce ($14.99), while the za’atar pastry is less than $5 a pop. For a classic, order the spinach and feta manoushi or the lamb fatayer. 

Order the: Lamb bi ajien special for $8.80.

Price: Fresh bread ($1.50) with toppings from $4.80, falafel plate $14.99

Slinging a delightful variety of fresh Malaysian dishes in the heart of Brisbane CBD, Roti Place has made a name for itself for its flaky, golden roti canai made fresh in-house, creamy laksa and vibrant Malaysian flavours that don't break the bank. Come for the open kitchen where you can watch the rotis being crafted and dig into their sprawling menu of authentic Malaysian street food. 

Order the: Roti canai.

Price: Roti from $12.40, meal deal (a main, rice and drink) from $26.70

With huge portions, consistently excellent food and great prices, Vietnam House in Fortitude Valley has been pulling in fans for years now. Warm and friendly staff, an informal dining room and a banging variety of Vietnamese favourites make this a great pick for any budget-seeking luncheon. You can expect to slurp on some pho, Vietnamese clay pot, noodles and a whole lot more for less than $20 during lunchtime. That's a bargain. 

Order the: The spring rolls, they're handmade. 

Price: Starters from $11, noodle and rice dishes from $13 (at lunch)

This salad-meets-sushi spot lets you build your own bowl, mixing bases like brown rice or soba noodles with proteins like salmon sashimi and tofu. Add as many toppings as you want (yes, seaweed crunch counts), and you’ve got a meal that feels virtuous without tasting boring. Regular bowls range from $13.40 to $18.90, making it an easy, healthy option that won’t break the bank. They regularly drop DoorDash deals up to 40 per cent off, so if leaving the house feels like too much effort, your ideal bowl can come straight to you (no pants required).

Order the: Tofu Boys salad for a nifty $13.40.

Price: From $13.40 to $18.90

Shoulder to shoulder with Charlie’s fruit and veg and neighbour to Body Fit Training is sweet-and-savoury bakery Veganyumm. Whether you sit in for a snack or take home a pack, be prepared to pick and choose more than you thought you would. This place has the best vegan chicken pesto toasties, with a perfect crisp and creamy texture. For an ideal experience, sit with your back to the gym entrance, close your eyes (save your gaze for the dessert display later) and listen to the crunch of your toastie. The best part? This place closes 9pm every night. Don’t forget to grab a chunky brownie or savoury pie on your way out!

Order the: Chocolate cupcake (or any of their chocolate baked goods).

Price: Pies from $12, baked goods from $8

It’s not your conventional cheap eat – after all, Bunnings isn’t exactly a restaurant – but their weekend sausage sizzle is one of Brisbane’s best-kept secrets for a quick, satisfying meal on a budget. For just $3.50, you get a sizzling sausage in a piece of white bread, generously topped with onions and doused in your choice of sauce. Most are run by charities, so you’re supporting a good cause while stuffing your face. Whether you’re grabbing one mid-DIY run gone wrong or making a weekend pilgrimage, this iconic Aussie cheap eat delivers every time.

Order: Sausage with onions, obviously.

Price: $3.50

A craft beer, wine and liquor bar that does great food, Zero Fox is the kind of place you take a date when you want to look sophisticated without spending much money. Their Japanese/Korean fusion menu comes in tapas-style portions that are mostly priced between $7 and $22. Special mention goes to the katsu sando, which are neat little sandwiches filled with richly crumbed pork and crunchy slaw. There are also heaps of vegetarian options, along with a considered drinks menu that features an exhaustive list of Australian gins. So come along for the food, but stay so you can drink your way through a gin from every state and territory in the nation.

Order the: The Korean fried chicken bao buns to start.

Price: Small plates from $7, sushi rolls from $13.

If you live outside Brisbane, it’s likely you haven’t yet heard of Botanica – but you will soon. The appeal is that it's kind of the Aesop of salads: cool little shops with a fairly permanent line outside each one, doing takeaway vegetarian salads to order. Get the raw broccoli salad, which comes in thin slices, drizzled with garlic cashew cream. There are also baked cakes and brownies. Find Botanica in Red Hill, Hawthorne, Camp Hill, Albion and Teneriffe.

Order the: For a twist, get the freekeh salad, with roasted eggplant, prunes, mint and almonds coated in creamy turmeric sauce.

Price: Small box (three salads) for $17.30

The second best thing about Remy’s is the beer garden, which sits beneath a shady tree and overlooks one of Paddington’s many palm-lined valleys. But the first best thing is that Remy’s does $12 cheeseburgers, or $18 for a double. And we’re talking burgers like god intended: big, fat, thick patties festooned with a grass-fed beef patty, cheese, salad and loads of sauce. Visit during happy hour for $10 tinnies, $12 wines and $25 Sangria jugs, and you’ll start to feel like some kind of god yourself.

Order the: Special burger (it's a cheeseburger).

Price: $13 for a bacon, egg and cheese roll in the morning, $12 for a cheeseburger at night.

If you want really good Chinese on a budget, go to this place where the chef, Richard Li, specialises in Shandong cuisine. His sweet and sour pork is a perfect medley of crisp meat and vegetables in a sweet glaze. Their special fried rice has more fun bits (fun meaning egg, bacon, prawns) than actual rice. And they do a comforting chicken and sweet corn soup that’s pretty hard to beat. Also, its corner position on two Teneriffe streets makes it an excellent place to perch and people-watch. 

Order the: We like to come here for a $15 lunch special, available from Tuesday to Friday. 

Price: $15 for lunch, $25 for a dinner main

Betty has quickly claimed her territory along the East Coast, with three stores in Brisbane. One of the busiest of the bunch is in the trendy West Village precinct. Don't dismiss this chain as just another burger bar: Betty's burgers are good, and they start at just $10.50. They’re made with Angus beef, fried chicken or 'shrooms', and you can fling on pickles, pineapple, avocado or bacon for a few bucks extra. Finish on a sweet note with Betty's concretes – custard ice creams enriched even further with sauces, crumbles and toppings.

Order the: Classic cheeseburger. 

Price: Burgers from $10.50

Don't be put off by the unassuming food court exterior – Sushi Kotobuki is one of Brisbane’s best-kept sushi secrets. This tiny, unassuming sushi joint is the definition of "if you know, you know" with rolls and bento boxes that feel like daylight robbery in the best way. The sushi rolls are oversized and packed with premium fillings. The bento boxes are a full-blown feast at a fraction of the price you'd expect. The salmon aburi is pure, buttery magic, and the crunchy chicken sushi roll is a whole meal disguised as a snack at $12. The only catch: it's small, it's always busy and you will wait. But all will be forgiven when you take that first bite.

Order the: The salmon aburi.

Price: Nigiri and sushi rolls from $5

It was a great day back in 2007 when buddies Ritesh and Sandip arrived in Australia from India with a mere $1,000 in their back pockets. They began selling spices, opened Mirchh Masala grocery store, and hatched a plan to bring authentic Indian street food to Brisbane. House specialities include puffed and stuffed pani puri, fried samosa and chole bhatura – a warming feast of chickpeas with airy, whoopee cushion-like pillows of house-made bread. All pastries, doughs and curry pastes are made in the tiny Mirchh kitchen. Every one of the estimated 300-400 samosas served daily is housemade, as is the ice cream on display in the dining room freezer. A mango lassi is a cooling end to a spiced-up night of feasting at Mirchh.

Order the: Their house Paneer Samosa. 

Price: Snacks from $8, dosa from $13, curries from $16

Tucked into a little old garage on a side street, Ruen Phae feels somewhat out of place among all the CrossFit gyms of Teneriffe, but its complete lack of pretence is what makes it so good. The chairs are plastic. Overhead fans stir the air. We got the jungle curry, which was zesty and fresh with big prawns in generous numbers, all imbued with that delicate smokiness of a scolding hot wok. Their spring rolls are perfectly crunchy, while their Thai beef salad is spicy yet fresh. This is some of the best Thai food in Brisbane.

Order the: Jungle Curry.

Price: Starters from $8, mains from $15.90